White, Mack Get Wish As Blue Wahoos Connections Factor In Futures Game Win 

Thomas White and Joe Mack got their wish to be on the field together, bringing Blue Wahoos connections, during Saturday’s 26^th annual MLB All-Star Futures Game.

All the better, the two highly touted Miami Marlins prospects were part of the winning team as the National League used a four-run rally in the fourth inning to beat the American League star prospects 4-2 at Truist Park, site of Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game in Atlanta.

With former Blue Wahoos catcher Joe Mack behind the plate, White pitched an eventful third inning that proved pivotal in the game.

After getting the first batter to fly out, White walked shortstop George Lombard Jr., the New York Yankees’ No. 1 rated prospect. Lombard then stole second off the lefty White, 20 years-old, the Miami Marlins’ No. 1 prospect, who played in this game for the second consecutive year.

Centerfielder Max Clark, the Detroit Tigers’ No. 2 rated prospect, then singled off White’s glove to put runners on first and third with one out. White then got Braden Montgomery, the Chicago White Sox No. 3 prospect, to hit a slow roller back to the mound that retired Montgomery, but scored the game’s first run.

White walked the next batter to again put two runners on base. But he followed by making a huge 3-2 pitch, a 95 mph four-seam fastball to strike out Jhostynxon Garcia, an outfielder who is the Boston Red Sox's No. 4 rated prospect, to end the inning with minimal damage. It was the seventh pitch White threw against Garcia.

That became a huge moment in the game after the National League took the lead in the fourth inning when Los Angeles Dodgers’ No. 1 prospect Josue De Paula, rated No. 27 overall in Minor League Baseball, blasted a 3-run homer to right center.

Owen Caissie then followed with an RBI double off Noah Schultz, the White Sox top-rated prospect. Both Caissie, the Chicago Cubs’ top prospect, along with Schultz, played against the Blue Wahoos.

White wound up throwing 30 pitches, by far the most of any pitcher on either team in Saturday’s Futures Game. White was just missing strikes on his sweeper pitch, which led to the two walks.

Mack started Saturday’s game and played three innings behind the plate, but got only one at-bat. After hitting two hard foul balls, he struck out swinging against Seattle Mariners acclaimed prospect Jurrangelo Cijntje, who wowed in the game by pitching both right-handed and left-handed with near equal velocity.

The 22-year-old Mack played in 13 games in April for the Blue Wahoos, batting .318, before earning a promotion to Triple-A Jacksonville. He’s been a big part of the Jumbo Shrimp’s success, batting .263 with eight homers and 31 RBI.

Mack first joined the Blue Wahoos in April 2024, finishing the season in Pensacola by playing 112 games, earning a Gold Glove Award at catcher – across all levels of minor leagues -- and being named the Marlins’ Double-A player of the year.

In Saturday’s Futures Game, he showed off his defensive skills by making several stops on errant pitches, including a couple by White, with runners on base.

Earlier this week, both White and Mack expressed their gratitude in being selected for the Futures Game. The two had never been battery-mates in a game, only in spring training workout sessions. They were hoping National League All-Stars manager Chipper Jones, the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame member, would put them in together.

“I’m very, very excited to be selected for this opportunity and get to go out and perform for the team and have a good time,” said Mack, speaking on the Marlins Radio Network program.

A year ago, White pitched in the fourth inning of the 2024 Futures Game at the Texas Rangers' ballpark in Arlington, Texas.

“Super pumped to be able to go back,” White said. “It’s a great experience. You feel like a big leaguer there for a couple of days. Great to be there with a couple guys I know, so super pumped about it.”